What are your names?
Ian Johnson, Wesley Chandler, Blair heumann
What is your genre of music?
Would say definitely pop but not limited to try other things
How did you come up with bands name?
Wesley and I (ian) both somehow came up with the name separately. I think I thought of it first and forgot about it. Then wes texted me a month or so later randomly and said “what about FAMES”. And that is literally all there was too it. Now I think some people may think were pretentious but we can’t really control that so who cares. Band names are like coming up with a really good joke, its fucking hard
Give us a little bio about you and the band.
Wesley and I met outside of a bar in Nashville,Tennessee back in 2016 started writing songs together constantly. Got out of nashville and fled to LA to give this thing a big boy try. Blair moved here shortly after and when we crossed paths it all clicked. Once it was the three of us things started moving
What made you go into music?
We’re not really good at much else.
Are you a signed?
Not exactly.
You released your new single ‘What Do I Call U’, tell us more about the single.
t’s just about the drastic change someone goes through when a breakup happens and that person you once held so closely is gone. You no longer know what to call them and it feels like calling them “ex” is like crossing them out of your life forever. Musically the chorus came first and once we understood where the song wanted to go it came together quickly. This is by far our favourite song we’ve released as a band.
What is the meaning behind ‘What Do I Call U’?
Breaking up and trying to forget about it.
Describe the track in two words.
Sad and groovy
Who did you work with on the Single?
Our producer Kevin Bard and engineer Garret Jiroux
Will we see a music video for the track?
Not as of yet but we have a stripped down version and video recorded and filmed during quarantine on our youtube and IGTV
Will we see an EP or Album this year?
EP, maybe? But who knows the end of this year might look quite a bit different for us.
Do you have any shows coming up?
Once we’re out of this quarantine and people are healthy again we are going to be playing quite a bit.
If so where will you be heading?
Anywhere that wants us.
What else can we expect in Early 2020?
A few more songs and keep exploring these stripped down videos we’re making.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
Nothing planned but we’re always open for something new.
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Reach out to us online and we’ll get you in contact with our management!
Do you play any instruments?
I think we’ve all taught ourselves how to play each instrument
Who are your influences?
Los Angeles, U2, Our dads, 80’s pop music, cool jackets.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Bad life choices most the time unfortunately
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Doing an interview like this before playing a show, in front of hopefully a lot of people. Be even cooler if it was at sunset and Wesley has shades on.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Hang out with the girls. We all like to watch sports together. Honestly we don’t ever really stop. Our phones are always rattling off with ideas.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Probably with or without you by U2 as typical as that sounds. One night wes and I were wasted and listened to Foreigners “I want to know what love is” on vinyl over n over again. That was definitely a moment where something went off in my brain about what we could do as a band
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
“When all your friends are going out stay home and write songs” Jay Joyce told me that over an email years ago after I sent him a shitty demo. We didn’t always abide by those rules but we did our best. Definitely more than anyone we were hanging out with at the time. Jay also said “you have to make the listener believe you”. Think we abide by that with every song we write
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
You’re gonna suck for awhile.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Loud and Forever
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Well we live in Los Angeles so there’s a bunch of cool shit to do all the time. But our favourite place, possibly in the world is The rainbow room.
Your coming off tour :
1/ Where do you go first? The rainbow room
2/ Who do you see first? Girls
3/What do you eat first? Probably cook something up ourselves
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Go to jacket, instruments, computer, cash, mints
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
